Lord God, Thank You For Jesus, The Most Perfect Christmas Gift
O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, who is enthroned above the cherubim, you are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; You have made heaven and earth (Isaiah 37:16). When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place (Psalm 8:3), what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? (Psalm 8:4, NRSV).
Father, Your Name and Your Word are exalted above all things, yet You are mindful of human beings, and by Your grace You care for us.
Because of Your rich mercy and great love, even when we were dead in our trespasses, You made us alive together with Christ, by grace we have been saved (Ephesians 2:4-5).
Thank You Father God for sending to us the most perfect Christmas gift ever—Jesus the Messiah—wrapped in steadfast love, justice, mercy, righteousness, peace, and kindness. The gift that Isaiah proclaimed so long ago:
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
Thank you for these words prophesied by Isaiah. You have given us such a beautiful picture of the glorious reign of our King Jesus Christ. As Christians we enjoy this glorious reign now in our hearts, even as we hope in complete peace and complete righteousness in the eternal reign of Jesus.
Thank You Jesus for being our Wonderful Counselor. All of Your works are extraordinary and marvelous. In You are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3). Thank You for giving us instruction and guidance for our lives by Your Word and Spirit. Thank You for freely bestowing on us wisdom so that our way may be ordered according to the fear of God.
Thank You Jesus for being our Mighty God. When Isaiah prophesied a child would be born called “Mighty God,” he told how Your coming would be in power, displaying that God is with His people. And that is exactly what happened when You walked the earth. O Jesus You are the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and You uphold the universe by the word of Your power (Hebrews 1:3). All power has been given to You (Matthew 28:18; Ephesians 1:20-21; Colossians 2:9-10) and we trust You to accomplish great things in and through us (John 15:5; Philippians 4:13).
Thank You Jesus for being our Everlasting Father. A Father who has no end—and a Son, for You are the promised Davidic king who remains on the throne forever and ever (2 Samuel 7:12-13, 16). Because You are sovereign over all of Creation, we rest assured in the steadfast perseverance of Your reign (Hebrews 1:8).
Thank You Jesus for being our Prince of Peace. Thank You for bringing peace with God through redemption by Your death and resurrection (Romans 5:1). Thank you for the total peace that we enjoy now with God (2 Corinthians 5:18-19) and for the complete peace we will enjoy in Your exalted reign over all the earth (Revelation 11:15, 21:1-4).
For now, while earth remains, wars and conflicts abound; despair and depression accompany the fear of danger and aggression. But Your Word is clear: a time of complete and lasting peace is definitely coming when You return. Hope abounds. We who know You Lord, by faith, need not despair as those without hope (Ephesians 2:12).
Jesus, it is hard to imagine, yet easy at the same time, that one day the present hate, deception, destruction, and corruption of the accuser—the great enemy of America (and of the whole world)—carried out by his minions, those he has led astray, whose hearts have been darkened, will be brought to a determinative and irrevocable end. And the earth will be filled with the joy of peace to those who have believed and hoped in You—peace which can only be accomplished through a King who is a Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:8-14
While we await Your eternal rule, help us Jesus, to wisely and effectively invest the talents you have given us (Matthew 25:14-30), to tend the vineyard in such a way that abundant fruit may be presented to You when You return (Mark 12:1-2), to keep our lamps burning and the extra oil plentiful as we await Your call to the great wedding feast (Matthew 25:1-13), to be alert (Ephesians 6:18), and to stay awake (Matthew: 24:22; Mark 13:34-37; Luke 21:36). To whom much is given, much is required and Jesus (Luke 12:48), You have given us our life.
Help us to carry on the ministry of Isaiah, proclaiming to the world the good news of the Gospel (Matthew 28:18-20). Strengthen us so that we are fully surrendered to You. May our witness be useful for the Holy Spirit in helping other people find eternal peace with God. O Father God, You call us ambassadors of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20)—help us to be worthy of this name. Help us to be pure from sin so that we may share the hope of righteousness. Give us unceasing energy to proclaim that the hope of peace is in Christ alone (2 Corinthians 5:28-19).
Help us to realize and make use of all the resources that are available to us from our most perfect Christmas gift ever. Based on the “name You are called” (Isaiah 9:6), we are assured that Your divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of You who called us to His own glory and excellence (2 Peter 1:3).
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace—these are our calls to greater prayer, greater confidence, and greater service. Truly You are God with us. God, help us.
In the Name of Jesus Our Lord And Savior, Amen.
